Rain helps firefighters make gains on Idyllwild blaze

Community workers sign in residents returning to Idyllwild on Highway 243 after the evacuation order was rescinded in the areas affected by a wildfire. Thousands were allowed to return to their homes after a rain helped firefighters in the battle against the fire.TERRY PIERSON, AP

IDYLLWILD – A Riverside County wildfire that destroyed seven homes and threatened the mountain town of Idyllwild is sluggish after a thunderstorm drenched the timberland, and more storms were expected Monday.

The 27,265-acre fire above Palm Springs was 68 percent contained. It didn't move overnight and crews were concentrating Monday on surrounding it on ridges thousands of feet up in the San Jacinto Mountains, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Lee Beyer said.

"It's pretty much in the smoldering category right now," Beyer said. "There's no moving fire."

Thousands of evacuees were allowed back home Sunday as a thunderstorm dumped up to 2 inches of rain on portions of the week-old, 43-square-mile fire.

About 1,900 firefighters were assigned, down from some 3,300 at the fire's height, and more will be removed as the fight winds down, Beyer said.

Some of the Orange County Fire Authority personnel who had been sent to help battle the wildfire have returned: five trucks and 17 firefighters have been demobilized. Twenty-two specialized wildland firefighters and four logistical personnel from Orange County are still working on the fire, according to officials.

More storms were expected in the next couple of days – and that could prove a mixed blessing, Beyer said.

"Light rains are good, heavy rains create mud flows," Beyer said. "Thunderstorms obviously have lightning with them. That's always a safety concern when you have people up on those exposed ridges."

Crews also must watch out for possible falling burnt trees, he said.

Some 6,000 people fled the little towns that dot the San Jacinto Mountains between Palm Springs and Hemet after the fire broke out July 15 and quickly raged across the heavily wooded area. Twenty-three structures, including the seven homes, were destroyed. There were no reports of injuries.

Authorities have said the fire was human-caused but wouldn't say whether it was accidental or intentional.

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Community workers sign in residents returning to Idyllwild on Highway 243 after the evacuation order was rescinded in the areas affected by a wildfire. Thousands were allowed to return to their homes after a rain helped firefighters in the battle against the fire. TERRY PIERSON, AP
A ladder truck flies the American flag to greet residents back to Idyllwild after the evacuation order was rescinded Sunday. TERRY PIERSON, AP
Firefighters with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the state firefighting agency, wave to residents returning to Idyllwild on Highway 243 after the evacuation order was rescinded in the areas affected by a wildfire. Thousands of people were allowed to return to their homes in the mountains above Palm Springs on Sunday, after firefighters aided by heavy rain made substantial progress. TERRY PIERSON, AP
Escondido Fire Battalion Chief Mike Bertrand, center, thanks all the firefighters in his strike team inside the Lake Hemet Market on Sunday. Fire officials started releasing some of the firefighters as the rain helped stop the Mountain fire. TERRY PIERSON, AP
Residents of Pine Cove thank firefighters and police in a chalk message along Highway 243. The evacuation order was rescinded in the areas affected by the Mountain fire on Sunday. TERRY PIERSON, AP
Firefighters with Firestorm Wildland Fire Suppresion Inc., from Northern California, tie up hundreds of hoses as crews made overnight progress against the Mountain Fire near Idyllwild on Saturday. RICHARD LUI, AP
Firefighters take cover at Lake Hemet Market as Louie Delegge walks around under his sun shade in the heavy rain Sunday. TERRY PIERSON, AP
Mark Engstrom, an Orange County Fire Authority engineer based at Yorba Linda Station 35, sit with trucks in Idyllwild on Friday. Some OCFA firefighters remained at the fire Monday. STUART PALLEY, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Trucks from the Orange County Fire Authority are pictured in Idyllwild on Friday. Some of the OCFA equipment and personnel had returned to Orange County on Monday. STUART PALLEY, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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